DVD Collectors Online

Frost / Nixon, a review by Rich

Title: Frost / Nixon

Runtime:123
Certificate:R
Year:2008
Genres:Drama

Plot:My Review:
Fascinating insight into an historical moment, I had watched the last interview before on TV, and this film fills in all the gaps of the hows and whys surrounding the final admission by Nixon in his interview with Frost, and some superb acting brings the whole piece to life.
I went into the film with low expectations, but under Howards unfussy direction the 70's feel, the political turmoil of the times, and the drama of the final piece were totally authentic and absorbing. The performances are perfectly understated, Michael Sheen again proves to be one of todays brightest and most versatile performers, but the movie is dominated by Frank Langellas wonderful depiction of Nixon.
400 million people watched the final interview worldwide, a remarkable achievement by Frost against so many barriers and financial blocks, and after this movie my dislike of him has turned into respect.
A perfect balance of political intrigue, tension, drama and humour.


(From DCO third annual November Alphabet Marathon - discussion/review/banter thread on November 6th, 2009)

Kisses, a review by Danae Cassandra

Kisses
Year of Release: 2008
Directed By: Lance Daly
Starring: Kelly O'Neill, Shane Curry
Genre: Drama

Overview:
Kisses is the story of Kylie and Dylan, young runaways living on the fringes of Dublin who discover both beauty and danger in the big city. Kylie lives with five siblings and an overworked mother. Next door, Dylan is growing up with an abusive father and the memory of his runaway brother. After a violent altercation with his father, Dylan and Kylie flee. Together they make their way to the magical lights of downtown Dublin to search for Dylan's brother and hope for a new life. Dublin, as shown through the innocent eyes of our young protagonists, is a kaleidoscope of magic, wonder, and mystery. But as the night wears on, the city takes on a darker character, and the two must rely on the kindness of strangers and sagely wisdom of Bob Dylan to persevere. Featuring incredible breakthrough performances by Shane Curry and Kelly O'Neill, Kisses is a tale of two children who test the limits of what life can become, and learn what they can do for each other.

My Thoughts:
Sad, bleak little film about the cycles of poverty and abuse and the inability of children to escape them. Here we have two children, fed up with their abusive homes, striking out on their own, only to find the streets even more terrifying. Yet the truly bleak part, to me, is that when they approach a police officer all that occurs is the return to their homes. No hope of relief is offered from authority. The only scrap of hope they have is in their bond with each other.

Kisses is obvious in its low budget, but they make the most of what they've got with creative use of black and white vs. color cinematography and an effective use of music montages to take the viewer through their adventure in Dublin. At first Kelly O'Neill came off very stiff to me, but once the scene with her uncle occurred, she really impressed me with how much she was able to convey in body language and expression and my appreciation for her performance continued through the rest of the film. Shane Curry did a credible job as well. Recommended with caution. This isn't a feel-good film.

Bechdel Test: Pass

Overall: 3/5

(From March Around the World 2016 on March 11th, 2016)

Pete's Pilots, a review by addicted2dvd

Get lost in the hottest series of the year. From J.J. Abrams, the creator of Alias, comes the action-packed adventure that became a worldwide television event.

Stranded on an island that holds many secrets, 48 people must band together if they hope to get home alive. Now you can experience the nonstop excitement and mystery of every episode, from the show's stunning first minute to its spectacular finale, on a seven-disc set.

Presented in a widescreen theatrical format with 5.1 Surround Sound and bursting with more than eight hours of original bonus features - including unaired Lost Flashbacks from the final episode - Lost is a real find.

Pilot
During a routine trip from Sydney, Australia, to Los Angeles, Oceanic flight 815 is blown off course and crashes on a remote, deserted island. Convinced that rescue is coming soon, the surviving passengers set up camp on the beach and try to make the most of what they think will only be a short time on the island. One fo the 48 survivors, Dr. Jack Shephard, suggest that they find the transceiver in the front of the plan so they can radio for help. But when a terrifying howl comes from the jungle, it becomes apparent that this is no ordinary island.

My Thoughts:
This is a series that I only watch on DVD. Unfortunately I am very far behind as I still only have the first 2 seasons. While I still enjoyed the show. I discovered the re-watch value was just not as high as the first time I watched it. Maybe it was just that I really wasn't much in the mood to watch this today but I found it to be good but not as exciting as the first time I saw it.

My Rating:

(From Pete's Pilots on March 8th, 2010)